Bundh partial in Udupi district

Banks, BSNL and private industries took part in the protest.

The nationwide bundh called by Left parties and trade unions was partially successful and peaceful in the district.

No untoward incidents have been reported in the district. The bundh was called by Left parties and trade unions demanding the strict implementation of labour laws and minimum statutory wages for all the labourers. Private and city buses remained off the road while almost all colleges and schools declared holidays while scheduled I PUC exams were postponed. However, the KSRTC buses plied occassionally.

As the transport, banking and postal services were hit by the bundh, many people had to encounter inconveniences. People who arrived at railway station had to literally struggle to find transport to other areas of the district. As a few buses resumed service late in the evening, those who had come from far away places could reach their home.

Earlier in the day, members of Left parties and activists of trade unions took out a huge procession from Ajjarkadu that passed through taluk office, Syndicate bank, BSNL office and culminated in the premises of Corporation bank. Employees of LIC, Banks and BSNL and private industries took part in the protest. All these institutions in the district remained closed and there was complete shut down in the networking of these institutions. District Rickshaw and Taxi Associations too supported the bundh.

SP Dr Boralingaiah M B informed Deccan Herald that entire bundh was peaceful and no untoward incidents have been reported in the district. The police personnel were instructed to be on high alert in the sensitive areas. “Our machinery is already in force as additional police are deployed for the purpose of Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha poll,” he added.

In Kundapur
The taluk witnessed outstanding response to bundh called by the trade unions, on Tuesday. Businessmen and traders kept their commercial set ups closed in response to the bundh call. No buses plied across the taluk throughout the day. This caused lot of inconvenience to citizens in general. Since schools and colleges were declared holiday, no students were seen on the street struggling to make it to the centres of learning.

CITU members held a public meet at Shastry Circle in Kundapur on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, CITU District Vice-President Mahabal Vaderahobli said that contract system has taken toll of employees of all sectors.